Bills Draft Pick Kelvin Sheppard Had Good Vibe From Buffalo

by Brian Galliford on May 2, 2011 12:15 PM EDT in 2011 NFL Draft

In the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected LSU inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard to help shore up the team's league-worst run defense. For Sheppard, he had an inclination that the Bills were interested all along.

"It kind of felt good - I kind of felt like I was coming back home because of being down at the Senior Bowl, having that contact with the coaches," said Sheppard of his pre-draft visit with the Bills in Orchard Park. "Once I stepped into the door everyone was like 'Shepp, what's up man?' Just that contact, the good feeling, the good vibe I got on the visit, all the arrows pointed at the Buffalo Bills, but you never know how the Draft goes. I'm just very thankful for my opportunity."

Sheppard already has a connection to the Bills, as another former LSU star, defensive tackle Kyle Williams, has worked out with Sheppard in the past.

"Oh yeah," said Sheppard when asked if he knows Williams. "He comes back in the summer and works out with the team. Most of the NFL guys come back and work out at LSU during the summer and Kyle's one of those guys who's a hard-nosed guy. He stays to himself, but when he's out there you know he's out there and he's getting the job done. And that's definitely a guy who I'm going to try to contact in the near future and get with him as far as working out with him."

When Sheppard was asked to describe his passion for the game and his leadership traits, Sheppard said he couldn't wait to start spreading his energy around Buffalo's defense.

"I can't even put it into words," said Sheppard. "I've been playing the game of football ever since I was five years old and it literally means everything to me. The feeling after a victory is like no other, in my opinion. I just take that to the game and I try to spread it throughout my team and to my teammates. And I see we've got big Marcell (Dareus) up front in front of me so I'm going to try to get his big butt fired up before those games so he can keep the linemen off of me."

Tweet Comment 41 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Seems like a good football player. He loves the game loves buffalo. He also seems willing to put in the hard work to be successful. Here is to hopes of this draft class turning out good.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on May 2, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Fired Up

The thought of these young guys getting together w vets like Meatball gives me goosebumps. I know it’s going to be a few more years of development but I really like the direction we are heading.

by TedWashington'sRobotDance on May 2, 2011 12:28 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

great screen name

by bruuuuuuuce on May 2, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I have had Sheppard in my mock since the beggining.

There were times it did not seem like we would get him in the third, and I did not like him as a high second so I am really excited that it worked out. If he and Poz can stay clean with the new bigger front line then they will both shine.

Welcome aboard !!!

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on May 2, 2011 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

Awesome quotes

I think I’m really gonna like this guy. It seems him and Dareus both have a HUGE passion for the game, and I think energy like that is infectious. It looks like were building a very solid, young defense here.

As a child I always wondered why a frisbee got bigger the closer it got. Then it hit me.

by RickStonetree on May 2, 2011 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

huge. word of the day

by Undee on May 2, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think CHIX is drafting passionate guys who play for the love of the game

I hope that will make a difference in the future squads when compared with the former…

"Pressure is when you don't prepare, and I know I've prepared myself..."
-C.J. Spiller

by Sluss88 on May 2, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

QB of the D

One undervalued aspect of this type of football player is how much leadership he brings. Poz, no matter his athletic prowess, isn’t the guy who want’s to be the vocal captain. Shep is. That’s a huge non-measurable. Huge. Anyone who has played with or been around a linebacker like that knows how important that guy is.

That’s why the Bills were glad he fell to them and the media thought it was a reach.

by Undee on May 2, 2011 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

Poz doesn't want to be the vocal captain?

Since when? He also doesn’t really have much athletic prowess.

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on May 2, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

since he was born

by Undee on May 2, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Poz is a silent leader. One thing the defense has been missing is a vocal leader.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on May 2, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

well said

by Undee on May 2, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

You see the video from NFL Network on BB.com of him leading the LSU huddle?

That dude gets all kind of jacked up. Cant wait. I think hes going to end up starting in the middle pretty damn quick. So happy he fell to the 3rd. I liked the Williams pick at #34, but kind of disappointed thinking we had no shot at Shepp in the 3rd.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on May 2, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup we got shep in the third though right when lbs started coming off the board.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on May 2, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty sure your teammates don't elect you team captain two years in a row

if you’re a silent leader. Pretty sure you’re not the first junior named team captain at PSU if you’re a silent leader. Pretty sure Brian and Chris Brown don’t write these two articles if you’re a silent leader. http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2009/8/21/996988/bills-posluszny-asserting-himself

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on May 2, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

i have watched enough bills games myself. Even if poz tries he just is not that guy. Tell me one game where he has been vocal or looked like a leader on the field. None . Was not edwards a captain at one point. This team does not seem to know what true leadership is.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on May 2, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

vocal leadership is what i meant there.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on May 2, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t expect the majority of people to understand this quality. It’s rare.

by Undee on May 2, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

to clarify:

Talking smack and being a vocal cheerleader is cheap. That’s in contrast to what I’m describing. Shep was a core piece of one of the most dominating Ds in the country. His talk is backed up with his walk.

by Undee on May 2, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

This is where Donte always came up short

The dude loved to talk it up but never backed it up

"An offensive lineman from BC comes with a guaranteed pedigree stamp" - Wash. Post

by JMSF#1 on May 2, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

You might not want to talk about Donte in the past tense quite yet. The pending CBA will have a lot to do with that.

by Undee on May 2, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

True

To me, it’s sink or swim time for him. They brought someone in that can challenge him and how he responds will ultimately determine his career.

"An offensive lineman from BC comes with a guaranteed pedigree stamp" - Wash. Post

by JMSF#1 on May 2, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

So far, not so good.

check out the fanshots for his twitter page

The AFC East is, perhaps, the league's most talented division, making it the most respectable division to finish last in. -The Onion

by JonasPounder on May 2, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Saw Those

And to be honest, it was a disappointingly predictable reaction.

"An offensive lineman from BC comes with a guaranteed pedigree stamp" - Wash. Post

by JMSF#1 on May 2, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

i went and typed donte whitner twitter just to look at his twitter page man the dude is angry and unprofessional.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on May 2, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Edwards was captain LAST YEAR… that whole captain thing is a joke. What teammates don’t elect the starting QB captain?

Another season (maybe), another year getting on the roller coaster. Hope the ride lasts more than 16 games :)

by syrbillsfan on May 2, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the idea of a rotating weekly captain…reward the guys who are producing as captains

by Undee on May 2, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I just think it doesn’t really accomplish anything. The players know who their captains are, they don’t need a big ugly patch on their uni to prove it (or in Edwards’ case, snicker at)

It’s not like Jeter and Varitek in baseball, a storied honor as a reward for their many years of ggod service…

Another season (maybe), another year getting on the roller coaster. Hope the ride lasts more than 16 games :)

by syrbillsfan on May 2, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure what the issue is

There is and always have been different types of leadership. Two for example are ones that lead by example and then the other would be the vocal motivational type. Not sure what the issue here is but it should be a non issue because it seems all good, unless Shep has no game to offer.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on May 2, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Senior Bowl

I read somewhere else today how only first round picks had any contact with their team post the draft due to the lockout. They got their playbooks but basically that was it. The article went on to note that missing OTAs and maybe summer practice would leave rookies so far behind as to be useless. It struck me that by drafting some players they saw or coached at the Senior Bowl, including Sheppard, the Bills may have actually considered this factor. There is familiarity with coaching styles form the player perspective and the coaches have a better idea of what to expect from the player.

by dyrwlf on May 2, 2011 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

good point

never thought of the angle that some of these rooks have already had some basic rookie camp-type coaching b/c of the senior bowl. i know its not a 1-for-1 replacement, but some coaching is better than none imagine. plus, they know how fast these guys can incorporate new coaching onto the field in actual playing conditions, meaning if they have to really crunch coaching in near the end of summer, the coaches think they can handle it. cool.

by bruuuuuuuce on May 2, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully Dareus can make a few copies and distrbute them to the other D rookies.

.
.
With pick #245 the Buffalo Bills select Michael Jasper (6'4" 395 lbs) Bethel University.

by Buffalo for Eternity on May 2, 2011 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Defense, Defense, Defense

Yes. Our defense is building up to be a nasty defense. We might actually stop those 3rd and 1 that we have so much trouble with.

by SpiderWeb Sleeves on May 2, 2011 1:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Or keep them to 3rd and 6 ;)

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on May 2, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

The AFC East is, perhaps, the league's most talented division, making it the most respectable division to finish last in. -The Onion

by JonasPounder on May 2, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

This pick seemed like a lock since the Senior Bowl. I think the only question was where he would be taken. He is limited athletically as showed at the combine and his pro day and he fell to the 3rd. If he had excelled at both of those events, we probably would have taken him in the 2nd.

"Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup" - Terry Pegula

by willgarr15 on May 2, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

didnt he have a pulled hammy and still run a 4.7 at the combine?

by NHBillzFan on May 2, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

It seems like not only is the Front Office picking up players that fit the system, but they seem to have a different attitude as well. They have an edge, are more confident and aren’t afraid to say it. The picks in the past didn’t sound (or look) like they had that passion.

by telka on May 2, 2011 1:17 PM EDT reply actions